14 October 2004 Edition

'Stormontgate' charges dropped

A West Belfast businessman has described himself as 'relieved but angry'
after changes made against him were dropped after a 16-month ordeal. William
Tierney, a former republican prisoner from West Belfast, was arrested in
June 2003 and charged with possession of information.

Before his arrest, Tierney alleged that Special Branch had attempted to
recruit him as an informer. A lawyer acting on Tierney's behalf said the
arrest and charging of his client had been "a calculated injustice".

The DPP withdrew the charge without comment but Tierney's solicitor said the
charge was dropped due to insufficient evidence.

Tierney was one of five people charged in connection with the so-called
'Stormontgate' controversy. Earlier this year, the most serious charges
against the defendants and those cited as leading to the Assembly's collapse
were also dropped by the DPP. Charges against a fourth person were dropped
last December.

Meanwhile, the British authorities are attempting to prevent the disclosure
of documents in relation to charges against the three remaining defendants,
a former porter William Mackessy, Sinn Féin's Dennis Donaldson and his
son-in-law Ciarán Kearney.

"It is an ongoing concern that wide ranging, unjustified allegations can
have a profound political impact and remain unsubstantiated. A trial date is
unlikely this year," said a solicitor acting for Kearney.